Container closure



4, 1966 c. J. FALCONER CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed April 13, 1965 FIGZSINVENTOR. CLAUDE J. FALCON ER 4o FiG. 8

ATTORNEYS FIG. 3

United States Patent 3,276,663 CONTAINER CLOSURE Claude J. Falconer, 401London Way, Sonoma, Calif. Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,665 Claims.(Cl. 22947) Thisinvention relates to a carton fastening means and moreparticularly relates to a means for fastening a cardboard or similarcarton of the conventional type wherein the top is formed by fouroverlapping flaps, one flap being attached to each of the side walls ofthe carton. In accordance with the basic embodiment of the invention acarton fastening means is provided comprising an I-shaped member havinga center web with flanges on opposite sides of the web wherein the lowerflange passes through a slot in one of the side walls and the web passesboth through a slot in one of the end flaps and the space betweenopposed side flaps while the upper flange passes over the tops of theside flaps, holding the carton securely closed.

In accordance with one of the embodiments of the invention the web is atleast partially cut away so that two opposed fastening elements canextend completely across the top of the closed carton yet the slots inthe end flaps do not extend completely across the flap.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the fasteningelements have depressions formed therein so that they can be easilygrasped by the fingers.

In still another embodiment of the invention two fastener elements areattached to a handle element so that the device serves not only tosecurely fasten the top of the carton, but also as a handle.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the ,invention, thefastening elements are sharpened so that into the carton.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective exploded view of a carton embodying thefastening means of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carton shown in FIGURE 1 with thefastening means in place.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial section on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial section on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the fastening elements.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the fastening element shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the element shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a short fastening element having a depressionin which a finger can be inserted.

FIGURE 10 is an end view of the fastening element shown in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventionincorporating a handle element.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown abox having sides 12 and 14 and ends 16 and 18, each of the sides andends having upstanding flaps respectively, 20, 22, 24 and 26. Normally,the side flaps 20 and 22 will each be about half the width of the box sothat when the top is closed they will come almost together while the endflaps 24 and 26 will each be somewhat shorter than half the length ofthe box so that they will not come together. However, in some boxes bothpairs of flaps will be of suflicient length so that opposite flaps willmeet on a center line.

Patented Oct. 4, 1966 ice At the center of the end flaps 24 and 26,slots 28 and 30 have been cut. These slots extend from the extreme endsof the box and terminate a short distance from the extremity of the flapso that a portion of the flap as at 32 and 34 lies between the end ofthe slot and the terminal end of the flap. A small slot 36 is cut at thetop center of end 16 with slots 36 and 28 being connected as shown. Asimilar slot is cut in end 18 but does not show in the drawing.

The fastening elements themselves have an upper flange 38 and a lowerflange 40 which are connected by a web 42. The flanges may be bevelledas at 44 to avoid sharp edges on the finished closure, but this is notessential for purposes of the invention. Preferably the web 42 does notextend the complete length of the flanges. Further, the web is split inhalf for a portion of its length so that one portion extends as at 46beyond the terminal edge 48 of the other half. Obviously the width ofthe web, i.e. the separation between the flanges, should be about twicethe thickness of the stock being fastened.

In order to use the fastener, the four flaps are folded down upon eachother with the slotted flaps lying under the opposite pair of flaps. Thefastener is then inserted with the lower flange 40 inserted in the slot36 with the upper flange extending over the tops of the flaps 20 and 22.As the fastener is pushed inwardly, portion 46 enters the space betweenflaps 20 and 22 and the leading edge 48 of the lower part of web 42 thenenters slot 48. As the device is inserted even further, the extendingportion 46 of web 42 will overlie the intact portion 32 of flap 24. Theopposite fastener would be inserted from the far side of the box inexactly the same manner.

Reference to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 shows the relationship of the parts.Thus, referring to FIGURE 3 the upper flange 38 overlies flaps 20 and 22with the upper portion 46 of web 42 lying in the space between theflaps. The lower flange 40 lies below the flap 24. In FIG- URE 4, theupper flange 38 again overlies the flaps 20 and 22 with web 46 lyingbetween these flaps. The lower flange 40 underlies flap 24 while theintact portion 32 of flap 24 which extends beyond slot 28 now occupiesthe slot in the web. In FIGURE 5, the upper and lower flaps are stillheld by the upper and lower flanges. The web 42 extends through slot 28and also the space between flaps 20 and 22. With the fastening membersnow in place, it will be seen that the box is securely fastened yet canbe easily opened merely by sliding out the fastening elements.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 9and 10, a depression 50 may be formed in the fastening element which isin the form of a fingerprint. This enables one to more easily slide thefasteners in and out.

Although the fastening device is preferably used with a box wherein theslots 28 and 36 are previously formed as by die cutting, in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention, the ends of the fasteners aresharpened so that it is not necessary to use preformed slots. Thus theend of flange 40 may be sharpened as at 52 and the end 48 of web 42sharpened as at 54. With the ends thus sharpened it is only necessary toforce the fastener into the closed box and it will cut its own slots.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 11.Here fastening elements 56 and 58- are provided with a flexible handlemember 60. In this embodiment, the handle is held to the fasteningelements by rivets as at 62, although it will be obvious that otherfastening means might be employed. Further, by employing a relativelysoft plastic for the fastening elements,

tegral casting.

Although it is preferred to employ two fastening elements which extendsubstantially the length of the box, meeting in the center, this is notnecessary and it is feasible to employ short fastening elements as shownin FIG- URE 9 such as those described which extend into the box only ashort distance from each end. In this embodiunent, it is not necessarythat a portion of the web be cut away but the web can extend thecomplete length of the shortened fastening element as is shown at 52A inFIG- URE 9.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations canbe made in the exact structure shown Without departing from the spiritof this invention.

The inner end of the fastener must, of course, be open, but the outerend may be closed with an end member as at 51 or may be open as inFIGURES 6-8.

I claim: 7

1. In a box or the like having opposed end walls and opposed sidewallswith side and end flaps, respectively, extending upwardly from saidwalls whereby said flaps form a closure for the box upon being foldedupon each other, a fastening means for said flaps comprising incombination:

(a) a horizontal slot at the top of each of said end walls,

(b) a slot extending a substantial length in the center of each of theend flaps and connected to the horizontal slots,

(c) a fastening element in the form of an I-shaped member having anupper flange and a lower flange separated by a web, said web being ofabout the height of a thickness of an end flap and the thickness of aside flap combined,

(d) the lower flange of said fastening element fitting into saidhorizontal slot and underlying the end flap,

(e) a portion of the web extending through the slot in the end flap, and

(f) the upper flange extending over the tops of the two side flaps witha portion of said web lying between said flaps.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the slots in the end flaps terminateshort of the end of the flaps and wherein a portion of the web is cutaway, whereby a portion of the web overlies the end of the end flap.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the fastening ele ments havedepressions therein for the insertion of a finger.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein a handle element is attached to theends of the fastening elements.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein at least one end of each fasteningelement is sharpened whereby the fastening element will cut slots in thebox upon being pressed against the box.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 933,454 9/1909Hudson 229-47 X 1,076,897 10/1913 Lettre 229-47 1,423,936 7/1922 Huffman229-47 2,645,408 7/ 1953 Eckles 229-47 X 2,828,905 4/1958 Frizzell 229-2,977,037 3/1961 Fellowes 229-47 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,079 3/ 1912 France.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A BOX OR THE LIKE HAVING OPPOSED END WALLS AND OPPOSED SIDE WALLSWITH SIDE AND ENDS FLAPS, RESPECTIVELY, EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAIDWALLS WHEREBY SAID FLAPS FORM A CLOSURE FOR THE BOX UPON BEING FOLDEDUPON EACH OTHER, A FASTENING MEAN FOR SAID FLAPS COMRPRISING INCOMBINATION: (A) A HORIZONTAL SLOT AT THE TOP OF EACH OF SAID END WALLS,(B) A SLOT EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH IN THE CENTER OF EACH OF THEEND FLAPS AND CONNECTED TO THE HORIZONTAL SLOTS, (C) A FASTENING ELEMENTIN THE FORM OF AN I-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER FLANGE AND A LOWERFLANGE SEPARATED BY A WEB, SAID WEB BEING OF ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF ATHICKNESS OF AN END FLAP AND THE THICKNESS OF A SIDE FLAP COMBINED, (D)THE LOWER FLANGE OF SAID FASTENING ELEMENT FITTING INTO SAID HORIZONTALSLOT AND UNDERLYING THE END FLAP, (E) A PORTION OF THE WEB EXTENDINGTHROUGH THE SLOT IN THE END FLAP, AND (F) THE UPPER FLANGE EXTENDINGOVER THE TOPS OF THE TWO SIDE FLAPS WITH A PORTION OF SAID WEB LYINGBETWEEN SAID FLAPS.